This thesis is a documentary research entitled “An Analytical Study of False Claiming for a Superhuman Quality in Theravāda Buddhist Scriptures”. The purposes of this study are, 1) to study the rule-establishment of false claiming the attainments of the superhuman quality in the Basket of the Discipline (Vinaya Pitaka), 2) to study the significances and criteria for judging false claiming for a superhuman quality in Theravāda Buddhist Scriptures, 3) to study and analyze the effects of false claiming for a superhuman quality in the Thai society.
The research found that the rule-establishment related with false claiming for a superhuman quality in Vinaya Pitaka, The Lord Buddha prohibited the monks from falsely claiming for a superhuman quality. If a monk, with intension, falsely claims for a superhuman quality, he will lose his status as a monk, bhikkhu, for life. In addition, he also laid down the levels of offence, āpatti, according to the intensions of utterers such as pārājika (defeat), thullaccaya (grave offence), pācittiya (minor matter), and dukkaṭa (offence of wrong doing). The Buddha, among those rules, gives the greatest majority to parājika (fourth defeat) likening those who intentionally claim for a superhuman quality to the greatest gangster eating the country’s alms food by theft. The criteria for judging false claiming for a superhuman quality are based on the principles of training rules. Some monks declare in front of lay Buddhists that they have got rid of and totally eradicated their defilements. Some speak directly to the lay people that they are already noble beings. And, some monks do not directly announce that they are noble beings, but they boastfully act as if they are - when some lay people admire him saying that he is a noble one, he does not reject it as if he is accepting it. Some monks declare the rebirths of the dead ones showing that they have ability of knowing the death and rebirths of beings. Thus, it means they have the same qualified wisdom of cutūpapātañāṇa as the Buddha does or as ones having similar quality to the Buddha.
It seems they are falsely claiming for a superhuman quality. One who has claimed that he is a noble one, but does not act according to the qualities of Ariya, it means that he is falsely claiming for a superhuman quality; therefore, he commits pārājika
(4th defeat).
The impacts of ones falsely claiming for a superhuman quality, have to be classified by Thai society, are destroying disciplines and doctrines of The Buddha, tradition, culture, and economy. Those who commit criminal offenses have become criminals of society while a number of Thai Buddhists blindly believe in an individual hopefully rely on such people leading them to gain this and that qualities of the Dhamma, to be stably prosperous in their life. Consequently, the boastful ones become spiritual leaders guiding religious practices making them blindly follow whatever they teach.
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